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September 1997

Stings of some species of Lordomyrma and Mayriella (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Charles Kugler Biology Department, Radford University, Radford, VA

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Kugler, Charles, "Stings of some species of Lordomyrma and Mayriella (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)" (1997). Insecta Mundi. 268. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/insectamundi/268

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for Systematic Entomology, Gainesville, Florida at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Insecta Mundi by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. INSECTA MUNDI, Vol. 11, Nos. 3-4, Se~tember-December,1997 193

Stings of some species of Lordomyma and Mayriella (Formicidae: Myrmicinae)

Charles Kugler Biology Department, Radford University, Radford, VA 24142

Abstract: The sting apparatus and pygidium are described for eight of 20 Lordorrtyrrrla species and one offive Mayriella species. The apparatus of L. epirlotnlis is distinctly differentfrom that of other Lordorr~yrrr~aspecies.Coml~arisons with other genera suggest affinities of species of Lordor~lyrrrluto species of Cyphoidris and Lncltr~or~~yrrr~~x,while Mayriella ubstir~er~s Forel shares unusual features with those of Proattu buttaki.

Introduction into two halves and a separate sting. The stings were mounted in glycerin jelly for ease of precise This paper describes the sting apparatus in positioning and repositioning for different views. eight species of Lordornyrrn,a that were once mem- The other sclerites were usually mounted in Cana- bers of four different genera. The stings of five da balsam. Lordorrz.yrrria species were partially clescribed by Voucher specimens identified with the label Iiugler (1978), but at the time three were consid- "Igenus Prodicronspis or Prornera- imen, Iiugler study 1976" are deposited in the 1~0p1u.s(Prorr~era,r~o~)l~s rouxi Emery, one an uncle- Museum of Comparative Zoology, Cambridge, Mas- terminetl species of Prorrrera.r~oplus,and Prodi- sachusetts. cronspis sara.siici Emery). These genera are now Most preparations were drawn and measured considered synonyms of Lordorr1,yrrnn (Holldobler using a Zeiss IiF-2 phase contrast microscope with ancl Wilson 1990, p. 14; Bolton 1994, p. 106). In an ocular grid. Accuracy is estimated at plus or addition, during a revision ofRogeria (Iiugler 1994) minus 0.OOlmm at 400X magnification. I transferred L. tortu.osaMann, L. levifrorcs Mann, Definitions of ternis (See also figure labels and L. stricr.tella Mann from Rogeria to Lordolnyr- and Iiugler 1978, 1991, 1992). The sensilla formula rrrapartly on the basis of sting apparatus anatomy. of the oblong plates is the range in number of On t,he other hand, L. epinota,lis Mann was trans- intervalvifer sensilla, ramal sensilla, and fulcral ferred to Lordorr1,yrrn.a. on the basis of est;ernai arm sensilla found on oblong plates. Intervalvifer characters. I-Iere I extend and summarize what is sensilla are located near the articulation with tbe known of t,he st,ing apparatus in this expanded triangular plate. IZamal sensilla detect movement concept of Lordornyrrr~,~,. of the slender rami on the anterior edge of the Mayriella is a small genus from Australian ancl oblong plate. Fulcra1 arm sensilla are located in the eastern Oriental zoogeographic regions (Brown base of the fulcral arm. The sensilla formula of the 1973). Its phylogenetic relationships are unclear. gonostyli is the range in number on the proximal Holldobler and Wilson (1990) clicl not assign it t,o a segment followed by the range on the distal seg- tribe; Rolton (1994 p. 106) "tlubiously include# it ment. The regions of the sting are defined by with Lordorr~yrn1,ain the Stenammini. internal structure (Fig. 7). Moving anteriorly from The sting apparatus is a complex charact,er the sting tip, the boundary between the sting shaft and the valve chamber is the point where the inner system that can be usedforphylogenetic analysis of wall of the sting shaft meets the outer sting wall. ant genera (I

Lorclomyrma sclerotized, but often the two segments are not very well delimited. In L. e~)iieota,listhe segments are Specimens examined. L. ca.ledorcica Andr6 indistinct, with the proximal portion longer than (3 workers) New Caledonia, Mt. Mou, E. 0.Wilson, the distal, which has an acute membranous apex leg. L. epircota.lis Mann (1 worker) British Solomon (Fig. 3). Sensilla formulae similar in all species: 3- Islands, Star Harbor, W. M. Mann, leg. L. leuifrorcs 7, 1-4. Mann (1 worker) Fiji, Viti Levu, Tholo-I-Suva,N. L. Triangular plate (Figs. 1,2).Uorsoapical and H. Icrauss, leg. L. pu,r~ctiveietrisWheeler (1 worker) ventroapical processes sometimes look short and Australia, Queensland, Broken River, Gkm S. Eun- truncate (Fig. I), but sometimes appear subacute gella, W. L. & D. E. Brown, leg. L. rouxi (2 workers) (Fig. 2). Since both shapes are seen in preparations New Caledonia, Ciu, E. O. Wilson, leg. L. sa,rasirci of L. prucctiverctris, L. rouxi, and L. sarasirt,i, the (2 workers) New Caledonia, Ciu, E. 0. Wilson, leg. apparent shape may depend on the orientation of L, stria,tella Mann (1 worker) Vanua Ava, W. M. this thick plate on the slide. Medial tubercle visible Mann, leg. L, tortuosa Mann (1 worker) Fiji, Viti in at least one preparation of all species except L. Levu, N. L. H. Icrauss, leg. leuifroi~sand L. epii~ota,lis(may be present in these Spiracular plate (Figs. 2, 3). Rectangular in also, butjust not visible in my preparations). Only most species (Fig 2); with an obvious posterodorsal L. rou,xi has a dorsal tubercle. lobe only in L. rouxi (Kugler 1978 Fig. 120), L. Lancets (Figs. 5,G). Base of each lancet with a caledonica, and L, sarasirci. In L. epircotalis, the single well developed valve. Lancet terminus is plate is less rectangular because the anterior apo- quite variable: sclerotized, cuneiform, and possibly deme has alarge process (Fig. 3). Medialconnection able to pierce in L. ca,ledoicica, L. rou,xi, and L. membranous in all but L. tortuosa, where it is a surasii~i(Fig. 5); filamentous in L. levifroics, L. narrow, weakly sclerotized band. Spiracle small. pr~icctivei~tris,L. stria.t,ella, and L. tortu.osa, (Fig. 6); Quadrate plate (Figs. 1-3).Most species with weak and spatulate in L. epiieotalis. a tapered anterodorsal corner (Fig. 2), but some- Sting (Figs. 7- 11). Most species: wedge-shaped times pollicate. In a L. tortuosa specimen the plate in both lateral ancl ventral views; sting bulb and on one side has a pollicate corner, but the other has valve chamber little differentiated in external view a tapered corner (Fig. 1); neither looks distorted by (Figs. 7-10); internal ritlge of sting base vestigial. the preparation. In some species, the dorsal edge of Variation occurs in the height of the sting base and the apodeme is not thickened (Fig. 2), but it is size of the basal notch and in the shape of the sting thickened in L. rouxi and L. sa,rasini, and produces apex. Sting apex is strong and evenly tapered in L. a small lateral lobe in L, epir~ota~lis(Fig. 3) and L. rou,xi (Fig. 7 and Icugler 1978, Fig. 127), strong with purcctiver~tris.The body of the plate projects below slightly reduced sides in L. sarasirci (Fig. 9), weak the level of the apodeme. The body is larger or with very reduced sides in L. leuifroi~s,L. yur~c- subequal in area with the apodeme in most species, tiveil,tris, L. striatella,, ancl L. tortuosa (Fig. lo), or but distinctly smaller in L. epiraotalis. strong with flared sides in L. cnledoicica (Fig. 8 and Anal plate. Very weakly sclerotized so that I

Anterodorsal Comer

O.lOmm

Figs. 1-3. Lateral views of Lordorr~yrrr~uspp. sting apparatus sclerites. 1. L. tort~hosaanterodorsal corner of the left quadrate plate; right quadrate plate, triangular plate, and oblong plate. 2. L. striatella spiracular plate, quadrate plate, triangular plate, oblong plate, and base of lancet. 3. L. epir~otalisspiracular plate, quadrate plate, oblong plate, and gonostylus. 196 Volume 11, Nos. 3-4, September-December, 1997, INSECTA MUNDI

Furcula

Sting Bulb Valve Chamber Sting Shaft

7

Sting Base

Figs. 4-13. Lordorr~yrrnaspp.sting sclerites andpygidia. All scale lines = 0.10 mm. 4. L. ror~xilateral gonostylus. 5. L. rouxi lateral lancet apex. 6. L. tortuosalateral lancet apex. 7. L. rouxilateral sting and furcula. 8. L, caledor~icalateralsting and furcula. 9. L. sarasir~i lateral sting. 10. L. striatella lateral sting. 11. L. epir~otalislateral sting and furcula. 12. L. culedor~icadorsal view of pygictium. 13. L. epir~otalisdorsal view of pygidium. INSECTA MUNDI, Vol. 11, Nos. 3-4, September-December, 1997 197 rior edge (Fig. 12). In striking contrast, L. epil~ota- Rocks. 1200m. 35" 33'S, 148" 59'E. 16-111-1992 S. lis has an enlarged median reticulate-striate area Shattuck #2665. on the anterior edge of the plate (Fig. 13). No clear Spiracular plate (Fig. 14). Spiracle small. reservoirs were seen in any species, but they could Anterior apocleme narrow. Plate narrows mesad have been lost in preparation. then abruptly narrowing t,o a membranous medial Mayriella connection. Quadrate plate (Fig. 14). Body nearly uni- Specimens examined. Six workers of M. a.b- form in width. Apodeme becomes wider dorsad and stir~er~sForel, from Australia: ACT: Booroomba its anterior ridge becom~swicler and weaker. An-

Dorsal Arm

Figs. 14-16. Mariellanbstir~er~sstingapp~atus.14. Lateral view ofspiracular plate, quadrate plate, triangular plate, oblong plate, gonostylus, and lancet. 15. Lateral view of sting and furcula. 1G. Ventral view of sting ant1 furcula. 198 Volume 11, Nos. 3-4, September-December, 1997, INSECTA MUNDI terodorsal corner blunt, not prominent. Dorsal edge other species in its sting apparatus: 1) spiracular of apodeme without medial or lateral lobes. ridge with a thick prominence on its anterior apo- Anal plate. Oval, very weakly sclerotized, its deme, 2) linear fulcral arm of the oblong plate, 3) edges not always distinct from surrounding mem- distal segment of gonostylus not so elongate, 4) brane. Posterior edge with 4-6 long setae. spatulate lancets, 5) sting bulb longer and sting Oblong plate (Fig. 14). Anterior apodeme long shaft more clifferentiatedfrom the rest of the sting, ancl tapered. Posterior arm slender, with weak ancl 6) single patch of anterior pygidial sculpture. dorsal ridge, and no terminal tubercle; not separat- This is now the fourth case in which quite ed from ventral arm by a postincision. Ventral arm different sting apparatuses are found among spe- with rather long, narrow fulcral arm that is well cies of the same genus. Two kincls of stings have sclerotized only in the ventral half. Sensilla formu- been founcl also in species ofA4or~orrroriurrt,(subgen- la: 2-3, 4-5, 0-2. era Holcorr~yrrrt,exandMor~ornoriu,rrl (Icugler 1978)), Gonostylus (Fig. 14). Short, nearly membra- Pheidologetori (Kugler 1986), and Rogeria (Kugler nous, single-segmented. With two separate patches 1994). On the other hand, other genera presently of sensilla: 5-6 proximal plus a dorsoterminal cha- seem quite uniform, e.g. Gr~a,rrtj)tog.ert,ys(Ihgler eta and companion seta. 1991), Tetra,moriurrt. (Ieugler 1978, Bolton 1976), Triangular plate (Fig. 14). Body wide basally, and Crerriatogaster (Ieugler 1978). then abruptly narrowed to the ramus. No dorsal or Bol ton (1994) placed Lordorrt,yrrria in the Tribe medial tubercles. St,enammini, while I-Iollclobler ancl Wilson (1990) Lancet (Fig. 14). Valve single, small. Lancet placed it in the Pheidolini. I have examined the apex needle-like; no barbs. sting apparatus in 13 of I-Iolldobler and Wilson's 19 Sting (Figs. 15, 16). StingL = 0.20-0.23. Sting Pheidolini genera and 9 of Bolton's 18 Stenammini neither highly developed nor strongly reduced (In- genera. Lordorrt.yrma species other than epir~otalis dex of Reduction = 0.52-0.57). Sting shaft short, clo have some similarities with St,enamma, Cy- about 45% to 47% of StingL; well sclerotized; apex plroidris, ancl La.chriorrtyrmex, which are members acute, without dorsal flange. Valve chamber low, of I-iijlldobler and Wilson's I'heidolini as well as 16%-17% of StingL. Roof of valve chamber held Bolton's Stenammini. All three genera have elon- below dorsal surface of sting by a strong, wide gate anterodorsal corners of the quadrate plate like transverse ridge and median tubercle, so the cham- those of Lordorrlyrrna spp. In addition, species of ber is very weakly differentiated from sting shaft Proatta bust- Faunas. Irt. B. J. Meggers, E. S. Ayensu, and W. I). teli has a similar Y-shaped furcula (likely symple- Duckworth, eds., Tropical Forest Ecosystems in siomorphy), gonostyli (possible reduction conver- Africa and South America: A Comparative Review. gence), triangular plat,e, and a short but piercing PI). 161-185. Smithsonian Institution Press, Wash- sting. Rolton (1994) placecl n/layriella and Proattn ington, D.C. 350 1111. in the Stenammini. My analysis of the sting appa- Holldobler, B., and E. 0. Wilson. 1990. The Ants. ratus also indicatxs a relationship bet,ween those Helknap F'ress of I-Iarirarcl I.Jniversit,y F'ress, Cam- genera. bridge, MA. 732 pp. Kugler, C. 1978. A comparative stucly of the myrmicine Acknowledgments sting apparatus (Hymen~pt~era,Formiciclae). Stu- clia Entomologica 20:4 13-648. I thank Steven Shattuck for sencling the spec- Kugler, C. 1986. Stings of ants of the tribe Pheidologe- imens of Adayriella a.bstilt.elis for study. tini (Myrmicinae). Insecta Mundi 1(4):221-230. Kugler, C. 1991. Stillgs of ants of the Tribe Ectatommi- References ni (Formiciclae: F'onerinae). Insecta Mundi 5(3- 4): 163-166. Baroni Urbani, C., B. Bolton, and P. S. Ward. 1992. Iiugler, C. 1992. Stings of ants of the Leptanillinae The internal phylogeny of ants (Hy.rnenoptera: For- (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). Psyche 99(1): 103-115. miciclae). Systematic Entomology 17:301-329. Kugler, C. 1994. Revisioll of the ant genus Rogc?riu Bolton, B. 1976. The ant tribe Tetramoriini (I-Iy- (t1ymenol)tera: Formicidae) with descriptions of menoptera: Formicidae). Constituent genera, re- the sting apparatus. Journal of Hymenoptera Re- view of smaller genera and revision of 71-igL1yp/ro- search 3: 17-89.